In mechanical design, optimization procedures have mostly been implemented solely by CAE codes combined by optimization routine, in which the model is built, analyzed and optimized. In the complex geometries, however, CAD is indispensable tool for the efficient and accurate modeling. This paper presents a method to carry out optimization, in which CAD and CAE are used for modeling and analysis respectively and integrated in an optimization routine. Application Programming Interface (API) function is exploited to automate CAD modeling, which enables direct access to CAD. The advantage of this method is that the user can create very complex object in Parametric and automated way, which is impossible in CAE codes. Unigraphics and ANSYS are adopted as CAD and CAE tools. In ANSYS, automated analysis is done using codes made by a script language, APDL(ANSYS Parametric Design Language). Optimization is conducted by VisualDOC and IDESIGN respectively. As an illustrative example, a mold design problem is studied, which is to minimize temperature deviation over a diagonal line of the surface of the mold in contact with hot glass.

In this paper, the efficient layout method for generating common and continuous cutting path of flat-bar profile. The ‘flat -bar’ is a stiffener and has long rectangular shape. This paper describes a fast nesting algorithm of the flat-bar, and a procedure to generate cutting path of gas/plasma torch, which is operated by a NC (numerically controlled) gas/plasma cutting machine. By using this common and continuous path, the machining-time for cutting and the maintenance-cost of plasma-torch could be reduced. Proposed procedures are written in C-language and applied to the Interactive Flat-Bar-Nesting System executable on Open VMS with X-Window system.

As customers demands are rapidly changing, a product life cycle is getting shorter and a product model is forced to be changed frequently. An ejecting design system becomes more important for high productivity to eject a product in high temperature without any damage. For example, an ejector pin that is a key component of the system can cause high local stresses and strains in the molding at the time of ejection. The number, the size, and the location of pins are important to make a smooth ejection. Therefore we propose an analytical approach with the aid of designer’s experience to calculate a total release force and pressure distribution so that the number, the size, and the location of pins can be easily determined. As a part of the result, the design system is built by Intent! with AutoCAD 2000 and a video player deck example is presented to verify the approach.

Progressive mesh representation and generation have become one of the most important issues in network-based computer graphics. However, current researches are mostly focused on triangular mesh models. On the other hand, solid models are widely used in industry and are applied to advanced applications such as product design and virtual assembly. Moreover, as the demand to share and transmit these solid models over the network is emerging, the generation and the transmission of progressive solid models depending on specific engineering needs and purpose are essential. In this paper, we present a Cellular Topology-based approach to generating and transmitting progressive solid models from a feature-based solid model for internet-based design and collaboration. The proposed approach introduces a new scheme for storing and transmitting solid models over the network. The Cellular Topology (CT) approach makes it possible to effectively generate progressive solid models and to efficiently transmit the models over the network with compact model size. Thus, an arbitrary solid model SM designed by a set of design features is stored as a much coarser solid model SM/sup 0/ together with a sequence of n detail records that indicate how to incrementally refine SM/sup 0/ exactly back into the original solid model SM = SM/sup 0/.

CAMPfonn2D is a Finite Element Method (FEM) based process simulation system designed to analyze two dimensional (2D) flow of various metal forming processes. It enables designers to analyze metal forming processes on the computer rather than the shop floor using trial and error and provides vital information about material and thermal flow during the forming process to facilitate the design of products. CAMPfonn2D can be used by companies, research institutes and industrial applications to analyze forging, extrusion, drawing, heading, upsetting and many other metal forming processes. Also, process simulation using CAMPfonn2D can be instrumental in cost, quality and delivery improvements at leading companies. Today's competitive pressures require companies to take advantage of every tool for rapid manufacturing of well-designed product. So, the preprocessor of simulation program must be easy to use to speed-up design. In this paper, we introduce new version of Preprocessor and show how easy to use it. And, Preprocessor will prove itself to be easy and extremely effective.

To design parts satisfying physical property in the continuous region, we do it in the discrete rectangular mesh points. Then we obtain points data from parts design and usually construct the surface using least squares method. In such case, that surface has an oscillation in the ineffective region which is inadequate for physical phenomena or NC machining. To solve both problems simultaneously, we extend the surface smoothly to have small curvature in the extended region. Up to now, we use the least squares method for the parts design in Color Picture Tube or Color Display Tube but in this paper, we use functions which is easily controllable. This surface has no error within the effective region compared to the least squares method.

Interactive simulators that simulate mechanical systems are being developed for the purpose of performance evaluation of product design, replacement of physical training, and entertainment game. Use of flight simulator is increasing to reduce risk and cost of physical training, and we need virtual environment which covers large area terrain. We need a method that can reduce development cost and construction time of virtual environment that simulate the real environment. There have been attempts to link GIS or remote sensing field with virtual reality. This paper examines a method that helps to construct virtual environment, and attempts to link geographic information with virtual reality. A construction method of virtual environment based on digital map and satellite image has been studied.

Curve tessellation, which generates a sequence of points from a curve, is very important for curve rendering on a computer screen and for NC machining. For the most case the sequence of discrete points is used rather than a continuous curve. This paper deals with a method of tessellation by calculating the maximal deviation of a curve. The maximal deviation condition is introduced to find the point with the maximal deviation. Our approach has two merits. One is that it guarantees satisfaction of a given tolerance, and the other is that it can be applied in not only a polynomial curve but its offset. Especially the point sequence generated from an original curve can cause over-cutting in NC machining. This problem can be solved by using the point sequence generated from the offset curve. The proposed method can be applied for high-accuracy curve tessellation and NC tool-path generation.

As the networks connect the world, enterprises tend to move manufacturing activities into virtual spaces. Since different applications use different data terminology, it becomes a problem to interoperate, interchange, and manage electronic data among different systems. According to RTI, approximately one billion dollar has been being spent yearly for product data exchange and interoperability. As commercial CAD systems have brought in the concept of design feature for the sake of interoperability, terminologies of design feature need to be harmonized. In order to define design feature terminology for integration, knowledge about feature definitions of different CAD systems should be considered. STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product model data) have attempted to solve this problem, but it defines only syntactic data representation so that semantic data integration is unattainable. In this paper, we utilize the ontology concept to build a data model of design feature which can be a semantic standard of feature definitions of CAD systems. Using feature ontology, we implement an integrated virtual database and a simple system which searches and edits design features in a semantic way. This paper proposes a methodology for integrating modeling features of CAD systems.

As a bridge between design and manufacturing, process planning is to generate a sequenced set of instructions to manufacture the specified part. Automatic interpretation of manufacturing information incorporated in the design documentation such as CAD file has been a knotty subject for manufacturing engineers since no current data exchange format for product data provides a perfect interface between heterogeneous systems. The recent neutral data exchange format STEp, standard for the exchange of product model data, includes not only geometry but also technical and managerial information. STEP AP(Application Protocol) 224 is specifically dedicated to the mechanical product definition for process planning using machining features. Given a design information in STEP AP 224 format, process planning can be made without human intervention. This paper describes a method to determine the sequence of machining features by using the machining features and the manufacturing information expressed in STEP AP224.